Being on Schedule to participate as Your own Brand in #NYFashionWeek, is like Winning a GOLD Medal at the Olympics, especially as it is the gateway to the fashion worlds biggest market. Just under 2 years ago our very own #KingOfFashion – David Tlale – did just that! Now if it was anybody else, they would have played it safe, but it wasn’t anybody else – it was David Tlale. So what did he do, he dispensed with Styling the Models Hair and instead went for Head Pieces, Clean faces and Bold Lips, and it worked – the reviews were Stunning.

You can imagine then, how ecstatic we were when David Tlale accepted our invitation to participate in our inaugural FranklyWildPowerHalfHour FashionShow series. In case you’re wondering what a PowerHalfHour is, it is a combination of a catwalk, an installation (Models act as Mannequins) and a Buyers Lounge – all in the space of half an hour! If you’re still wondering, then it is best you pop down to Emperors Palace in Jozi this coming weekend (12th & 13th July) and see for yourself. It is also the inaugural event for The East Rand Wedding Show so it is going to be a very exciting weekend indeed, especially for all those Brides-to-be that are joining us.

To promote the event we asked David Tlale to pop into the Studio for a shoot. Being the Gentleman he is, he did exactly that. What we didn’t know is that he had just spent the week abroad, had spent the weekend in Cape Town, and was due to leave for the States the following day – but pop into the Studio he did! When we asked him about the ‘jet lag’ he answered, “I don’t have time for it, when I’m tired I sleep”. I suppose that is what sets David apart from the rest & why David is renowned for designing garments for Woman who want to make a statement #SexyPowerfulWoman #MakingAnEntrance #LoveDrama #HighFashion #ExcitingFabrics #CommandAttention

Knowing David, if you’re at the show, you may just get a chance to meet him! So pop down and come and say Hi……! Tickets are available on Webtickets or at the Door.

Makeup was compliments of @KBeautySA #KardashianBeauty @SavannaJardine & Hair was by @Dr_Foil #HairGenius. Thanks also to @ERWedding #TheEastRandWeddingShow for giving us an Event to Showcase our New #FranklyWild #PowerHalfHour #FashionShow Series, and of course @EmperorsPalace #YourPalaceOfDreams for the upcoming Venue.

Little did 13 young ladies realise a few weeks back, how talented and special they really are.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/n92-1EdG8vA[/youtube]

Something tells me that even now, some of them still may not realise it…maybe that’s a good thing, but over the next few weeks they are going to find out fast, just how hard you have to work to get that SHOT! Few young ladies ever get to have a ‘Shot at the Title‘, but these young girls have certainly earned theirs!

We cast over 130 people to be in our maiden FranklyWild #PowerHalfHourFashionShow, something we conceptualised just a few months ago, this coming July at the East Rand Wedding Show at Emperors Palace; featuring two of the countries hottest designers and the industry’s leading Bridal supplier.

On Monday we took the top 30 girls from the original casting, gave them some time to prepare, and then chose the final 13. I know it was nerve racking for some, but the truth of it is, that it was actually a really good opportunity. It was a real life experience for the girls, and as we all know experience equals success. At the very least all the girls that attended got to experience a professional industry casting, and for the talented 13 they get to taste a little more.

We’re shooting with them in the Studio today, so let’s take a look at some of the results. Some of them might just have a Shot At The Title…!

Let’s take a look at a selection of Designers showcasing their AW2014 collections at SA Fashion Week

Dramatic opening to the ‘Inspired by Minnie’ collection from Suzaan Heyns…

This October’s edition (2013) of SA Fashion Week was once again held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosebank, and as she does so effectively at each showcase Lucilla Booyzen once again provided us with an astounding exhibition of some of the finest fashion talent this country has to offer. Now I’m sure that if the rest of you are as passionate about fashion as we are, then you will already have siphoned through some of the blogs already out there updating us on this past weeks event. I’m going to give you our FranklyWild take on what was special for the AW2014 collections. Thanks to Crowne Plaza once again for your awesome hospitality, and a Big #ShoutOut to Lucilla & @safashionweek for another spectacular showcase.

The Foyer at Crowne Plaza Rosebank during SA Fashion Week…

One of my favourite’s this Spring had to be the Suzaan Heyns ‘Inspired by Minnie’ collection. I’ve always seen Suzaan as one of the more technical designers. Perhaps it is her attention to detail, and perhaps it is her training at LISOF. Most obvious however is that each collection is unique from the other, and more importantly her inspiration resonates throughout the collection and has a more strategic presence than most – in other words when we see a Suzaan Heyns collection, we know it is a Suzaan Heyns collection.

If I’m not mistaken I believe Suzaan was the first South African and perhaps even African designer to base her collection on the Disney character, Minnie Mouse – #AwesomeInspiration. #ShoutOut to @suzaanheyns for #InspiringFashion

Another inspiring collection that caught our eye was from the inspirited designer Shaldon Kopman’s Naked Ape AW2014 collection. Shaldon really got it right and seemed to have an insight into our mindset with this collection – this stuff is wearable to the upwardly mobile Gentlemen! Not only is the Style bold and resolute but it is taking us one step closer to catching up with our European counterparts, rather than following them. The collection was specifically African, the colours screamed out we love Autumn, and the fit looked snug; just what you want to be in AW2014. Maybe the Models looked snug too!

We also had the countries Top Stylists and Editors at the Show, invariably being hounded by the Press, including Chu Suwannapha from You & Huisgenoot and the ever present Jennifer Su.

We loved both the Designs and the Models for Palse Homme Ladies AW2014 – #Awesome!

And of course, the South African Fashion Week would not be complete without some flambouyant and discernible couture from @RomanHandt. Always relevant to a Man that wants to be noticed and most certainly showcase his ‘happening & here’ statements. For an Autumn/Winter collection it was delightfully cheerful – Roman Handt AW2014